Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 things we learned in win over Falcons

Let’s hear it for the role players

For a few years now the Steelers have been a team of stars. This year, they are missing their biggest star on defense and arguably their biggest star on offense. The biggest thing we learned on Sunday is that the Steelers don’t need another Shazier and another Bell to dominate a game. They just need everybody to execute and play one level up. Every player can collectively make up the difference.

Conner stepped up big but look at some of his big plays. You’ll see Roosevelt Nix, Vance McDonald, Alejandro Villanueva, and more showed up with great blocks. All the tight ends were involved. Special teams had a great game, Jordan Berry and Nix stood out. Fort, Bostic, and Matekavich held the line with Vince Williams absent. The defense wrapped up and tackled.

I’ll grant you the Falcons are not the strongest looking team at the moment in terms of record. But if the Steelers can play like this every game, from offense to defense to special teams to coaching, then they can play any team in the league, even without Bell and Shazier.